Written Answers Wednesday 10 September 2008

Scottish Executive

Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to bring into force section 29 of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007.

Adam Ingram: I wrote to the Convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on 19 June 2008 setting out the process for implementing the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007. I intend to write again shortly to set out a more detailed timetable for laying the draft regulations and commencing the act, as well as the revised draft Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations. I will share the content of the update with the member.

Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward regulations to implement section 74 of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is currently developing the regulations to support the implementation of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007; this includes the regulations under section 74.

  Due to the nature of the regulations relating to section 74 we are working with the General Medical Council, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Information Commissioner’s Office in order to ensure that these regulations are fit for purpose. A consultation on the regulations will be published later this year, with section 74 of the 2007 act being implemented with the rest of the 2007 act early in 2009. We will ensure that Dr Richard Simpson receives the consultation paper when it is issued.

Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when a court makes a Permanence Order, it is intended that the court apply section 74 of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 or whether this will only apply to those for whom it is the intention that they are or may be adopted later.

Adam Ingram: The power to make regulations under section 74 of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 relate specifically to the "disclosure of information about the health of the natural parents of a child who is to be, may be, or has been adopted". Therefore, the regulations will only apply in cases where the intention is that the child will be, or has been, adopted rather than where an application for a Permanence Order is being considered by the court.

Climate Change

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all respondents to the Climate Change Bill consultation supported the 80% emissions reduction target.

Stewart Stevenson: The consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill did not ask a question about whether there should be a target to reduce emissions by 80%.

  Around a third of all individual respondents, and all but one of the campaign texts, expressed their specific support for the level of the target.

  To present further analysis of the views received as a percentage of the whole would be misleading because the majority of responses did not include views on these topics because they were not sought.

  Further detail in the methodology used in the analysis of the responses to the consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill is provided in the answer to question S3W-16038 on 10 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Climate Change

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all respondents to the Climate Change Bill consultation supported a target based on all greenhouse gas emissions.

Stewart Stevenson: The consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill received 21,046 responses. Of this total, 318 were from individuals and organisations seeking to respond directly to questions asked in the consultation document itself and the remaining 20,728 were from participants in eight campaigns which put forward a limited number of requests regarding the content of the proposed bill.

  Of those responses which sought to answer the specific questions in the consultation document, 224 addressed directly or indirectly the question about whether the 80% target should be based on carbon dioxide only or on the basket of six greenhouse gases. Of that number, a large majority stated in full or in part, or inferred, support for using the basket of six greenhouse gases.

  In line with established good practice, the analysis of the responses to the consultation was a qualitative exercise designed to reflect the breadth and overall pattern of views expressed across the range of stakeholders who responded, rather than to measure and quantify these patterns. Campaign participants were encouraged to adapt a core script provided by the campaign organisers. The analysis of these responses took account of both the core script statement plus all amendments and additions by individuals.

  Three campaign texts explicitly supported the use of the basket of six greenhouse gases. In total, 907 responses were received from these campaigns.

  A number of additional responses, including the remaining five campaign texts, referred to "greenhouse gases", rather than carbon dioxide or the full basket of greenhouse gases, without stating explicitly which gases they were referring to. In total, 19,812 responses were received from these campaigns.

  The open nature of the consultation questions meant that answers to one question often contained views relevant to another. In relation to support for a target based on all greenhouse gas emissions, a wide range of information from across the responses was considered in order to determine the level of support for this measure. In analysing the responses, the contracted analysts had to determine whether support was explicit, inferred, or expressed in response to another issue.

  Further information about the methodology used can be found in section 1 and annex 3 of the report of the analysis of the consultation responses, which can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/15113442/0.

Climate Change

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all respondents to the Climate Change Bill consultation supported the inclusion of emissions from international aviation and shipping in the targets.

Stewart Stevenson: The consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill did not ask a question about whether emissions from international aviation and shipping should be included in the 80% emissions reduction target.

  Around a third of all individual respondents, and all of the campaign texts, suggested the inclusion of aviation and shipping in the target. Not all of these respondents made a distinction between international and domestic aviation and shipping. Domestic aviation and shipping will be included in the target from the start.

  To present further analysis of the views received as a percentage of the whole would be misleading because the majority of responses did not include views on these topics because they were not sought.

  Further detail in the methodology used in the analysis of the responses to the consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill is provided in the answer to question S3W-16038 on 10 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Council of Economic Advisers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the last meeting of the Council of Economic Advisers was; what topics were discussed, and whether members have received any recommendations arising from the meeting.

John Swinney: The last meeting of the Council took place on 13 June 2008.

  The following topics were discussed:

  An update on the Scottish Economy;

  Education, Skills, Lifelong Learning and the Government Economic Strategy, and

  Achieving Scotland’s 2011 targets on emissions and economic growth.

  The recommendations made by the Council at the meeting can be found in the minutes, published on the Scottish Government’s website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers.

  The next Council meeting will take place on 3 October 2008.

Courts

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why witnesses who have been cited formally as witnesses to attend court and are subsequently told not to attend court are told not to attend verbally by a third party and without confirmation in writing by the court.

Frank Mulholland QC: When a witness who has been formally cited by the Crown to attend Court is no longer required, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) uses a variety of methods to notify the witness depending on the circumstances of the case and the individual needs of the witness.

  In the case of civilian witnesses cited for Summary and Sheriff and Jury Trials, COPFS aims to countermand the citation by post, subject to the following exceptions:

  (a) Where there are less than three clear working days between the date of countermanding and the date of trial.

  (b) Where the witness is a child witness or a vulnerable adult witness.

  In Summary and Sheriff and Jury cases, where there are less than three clear working days between the date of countermanding and the date of trial or the witness is a child witness or a vulnerable adult witness, witnesses are notified verbally, by telephone or in person by COPFS staff or by the police on the instruction of the Procurator Fiscal. The police use a variety of ways of passing on this information to the witness and may do this by telephone or by attending at the home or business address of the witness to notify them in person.

  Postal countermands are not used for High Court cases. Witnesses cited by the Crown in High Court cases are either countermanded verbally, either by telephone or in person by COPFS staff or by the police using the methods outlined above.

  If a witness is no longer required to attend at court and is being informed of this verbally, it will always be by an employee of COPFS or the relevant police force, acting on the instruction of the Procurator Fiscal.

  Arrangements for cancelling or countermanding witnesses cited by the defence or by parties in civil cases are entirely a matter for them.

Courts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment is planned for Glasgow District Court in order to modernise the accommodation.

Kenny MacAskill: The District Court buildings at St. Andrew Street and Turnbull Street are scheduled to transfer to the Scottish Court Service (SCS) in December 2008. Both buildings have considerable backlog maintenance problems and require substantial investment. SCS is therefore currently carrying out an evaluation of the most suitable options for the future delivery of summary business currently carried out in these buildings that will maximise value for money.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the supply of a portion of green energy was last in the list of objectives in the request for information from prospective electricity suppliers.

Jim Mather: Market participants were requested to provide information on a number of issues. The list was in no specific order.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why it asked in its request for information from prospective electricity suppliers for information on premiums associated with green energy.

Jim Mather: Market indicators have suggested that electricity generated from renewable sources often attract price premiums in excess of the Climate Change Levy. The request for information exercise was a structured process to gather information from the market to ascertain the extent of suppliers charging premiums and the likely levels of any such premiums.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what energy reductions will be achieved with the contract currently out for tender for the supply of electricity to the public sector.

Jim Mather: The tender is focused on selecting the electricity supplier(s) for the national contract in accordance with the most economically advantageous tender. Energy reduction initiatives are defined, developed and monitored by individual public bodies and are carried out in line with their own policy and budget priorities. The national electricity contract aims to support these activities with input from suppliers.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its reference to "small scale renewables initiatives and opportunities to sell electricity into the grid", in its news release of 18 August 2008, means that it will ensure that the SNP manifesto commitment that all public buildings benefit from renewable energy is delivered.

Jim Mather: Progress is being made on realising the renewable capability across the public sector in a number of ways:

  Through the Scottish Government’s "Leading By Example" programme we are ensuring all parts of the public sector play an exemplary role in pioneering new greener behaviours. Generating more sustainable low carbon energy through renewables is an important element of the programme;

  We have extended the public sector fund to allow it to be used to support renewable technologies as well as energy efficiency;

  We have tripled funding for community and microgeneration, with £13.5 million available each year compared to the previous administration’s £4.5 million;

  We are more actively promoting the UK Government’s Low Carbon Building Programme which provides grants to the public sector for renewable technologies, and

  We are introducing dedicated School Development Officers to support the deployment of renewable technologies in schools.

  The national contract arrangements will help facilitate the development of renewable generation by ensuring appropriate tariffs are set for surplus electricity generated by public sector bodies fed back into the national grid, and thus support business cases for the installation of such technologies.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific energy reduction targets are set out in the tender for the supply of electricity to the public sector and how they will be (a) monitored and (b) achieved.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15704 on 10 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meters will be installed as a result of the contract currently out to tender for the supply of electricity to the public sector and by what date.

Jim Mather: The tender requests suppliers to provide details of their Automatic Meter Reading Offer and seeks to leverage the demand from the Scottish public sector to reduce the cost of implementation of such solutions. Installation of meters will remain within the control of individual public bodies in accordance with local policy and budgetary priorities. It is therefore not possible at this time to estimate the number of meters which may be installed.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to clarify what it means by "The contract will provide public bodies with access to energy management measures" in its news release of 18 August 2008 and whether it means consultancy, or retrofitting, provided free of charge across every public sector building.

Jim Mather: The tender for the national contract has requested details from prospective suppliers for the energy management measures which they could provide to support the Scottish public sector. Examples given in the invitation to tender are:

  Access to energy management information

  On-line energy management tools

  Energy efficiency audits

  Site assessment for suitability of embedded generation.

  Further clarification on what these measures could include will impact on the tender and subsequent evaluation processes. It is therefore inappropriate to comment further at this point in time.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been carried out to ascertain what financial difference will be made by not specifying the requirement for 100% renewable energy in the contract currently out for tender for supply of electricity to the public sector as compared with its current electricity supply contract.

Jim Mather: It has been estimated that the impact of renewable premiums on the electricity contract currently out to tender could be as high as 10%. Renewable premiums are subject to the balance of supply and demand at any particular time and the position will only become clear when tender responses are received.

Electricity

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set a minimum percentage for electricity supply from renewable sources below which it will not accept a bid for the contract currently out to tender for the supply of electricity to the public sector.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how high a percentage of electricity supply from renewable sources a bidder will need to offer in order to be considered for the contract currently out to tender for the supply of electricity to the public sector.

Jim Mather: Information gathered from market sources has indicated that specifying specific quantities of renewable electricity can lead to reduced competition. The upturn in demand for renewable electricity has resulted in reduced quantities being readily available leading to an increased risk that few, if any, suppliers could meet a large demand from the Scottish public sector.

  The national contract tender contains provisions to ensure that access to renewable electricity is not dependent on the renewable supplies available from any particular supplier at the time of submitting their tender. Innovative contract terms will ensure that other sources of supply can be accessed as necessary.

Families

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to design services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable families.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework has the improvement of the life chances of children, young people and families at risk as one of its national outcomes. Within the context of the concordat and the National Performance Framework, the responsibility for the design of local services lies with local authorities.

  At a national level, several of the Scottish Government’s policies support local authorities and others in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable families. These include the early years framework, the anti-poverty framework and Equally Well, the report of the Health Inequalities Task Force.

  For those families with children where vulnerability is persistent or particularly marked, the Scottish Government’s Getting it right for every child approach emphasises that the child’s needs should be at the centre of service delivery and that where more than one agency is required to provide the necessary support, this should be done in a co-ordinated way.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during the last 15 months, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change has taken advice on or considered (a) seeking expressions of interest in operating or (b) proceeding through public tender to secure offers to run a publicly subsidised ferry service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Stewart Stevenson: There have been a number of discussions about a possible ferry service for Lochboisdale to Mallaig. Those discussions will continue to determine an option for a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service that is both affordable and acceptable to all the communities concerned.

Foster Care

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to bring forward regulations to allow same-sex couples to apply to foster children.

Adam Ingram: The consultation on the draft Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations which includes provision to remove the prohibition on same-sex couples fostering ended in March 2008. I intend to write to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee shortly, setting out a more detailed timetable for laying the draft Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 Regulations, commencing the act, as well as the revised draft Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations. I will share the content of the update with the member.

Gaelic

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified teachers of Gaelic there have been in each year since 1995.

Maureen Watt: The number of Gaelic teachers are published each year in Teachers in Scotland , available on the Scottish Government website using the following links:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/42;

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/04/25165316/53393.

  Information is not available prior to 2003.

Gaelic

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified teachers of Gaelic are employed in each local authority area.

Maureen Watt: The number of teachers of Gaelic are published in tables 8.9 and 8.10 of Teachers in Scotland 2007 , available on the Scottish Government website using the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/0.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-14365 and S3W-14367 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will now provide details of the new structure for infection control in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Nicola Sturgeon: A new infection control structure was introduced across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGG&C) from 1 July 2008. The current structure of the Infection Control Nursing service has been reviewed to allow a full and seamless integration of NHSGG&C into a single delivery service across the Acute Division.

  The outcomes of the review are as follows;

  four "Sector Teams" (North West, North East, South and Clyde) will be established, with a twinning arrangement between sectors where each partnership will provide cover as required in outbreak and emergency circumstances.

  each team will be led by a Lead Infection Control Nurse, who will also have a Glasgow and Clyde wide responsibility in one of the following areas: cleaning, decontamination, surveillance, built environment and education/audit/research.

  a Co-ordination Infection Control Doctor will work closely with the Head Nurse of Infection Control, and will also take the role as Lead Infection Control Doctor. The new structure will have five Infection Control Doctors.

  in line with the four Sector Teams, there will be four "Sector Infection Control Committees". The chairs of each sector committee will report to the Acute Division Infection Control Committee.

  The new structure is in the process of implementation, with new organisational arrangements and line management responsibilities.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reporting structure is from the infection control nurse at the Vale of Leven Hospital through various agencies up to and including the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Vale of Leven Hospital follows the same reporting structure as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. All Healthcare Workers (HCW’s), who suspect that an outbreak may be occurring must contact a member of the Infection Control Team (ICT).

  The ICT will then take action and decide on the need for an Outbreak Control Team (OCT) based on the agreed outbreak severity. If necessary, the ICT will close the ward and inform the following; Consultant Public Health Medicine (CPHM), Occupational Health, Board Infection Control Manager, Nurse Consultant Infection Control, Bed Manager, Head of Nursing, Service General Manager, Facilities/Site Manager, Clinical Service Manager, Lead Nurse Service, General Manager Diagnostics Directorate.

  The Board Infection Control Manager or Nurse Consultant Infection Control will then inform other Chief Officers and the Press Officer for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. If the outbreak has been classified as orange or above, as outlined in The Watt Report Infection Control Outbreak/Episode Risk Matrix, the Board Infection Control Manager will inform Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and Scottish Government Health Directorates (SGHD).

  Should an outbreak be reported to SGHD, my officials, the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force, chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer, will inform the Chief Medical Officer and Director General of Health and Wellbeing. I am kept regularly briefed at all times.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why there is no current single guidance document on Clostridium difficile issued to NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance on the control of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) was first issued in the early 1990s by the then public health laboratory services and evidence has shown that this guidance has remained relevant.

  Specific Scottish guidance on surveillance of CDAD has been available since the start of the mandatory CDAD surveillance programme in September 2006 and this was updated in October 2007.

  A range of CDAD documents have been produced by Health Protection Scotland for NHS boards. These include the standard infection control precautions model policies which have been available since September 2006, with supporting education materials for hand hygiene and personal protective equipment also available, transmission-based precautions model policies, including contact precautions policy with Clostridium difficile specific hand hygiene and cleaning guidance, which was launched April 2008, the CDAD care bundle which was launched in March 2008 and a checklist for preventing and controlling CDAD was circulated for comment on 19 June 2008 to all infection control managers.

  Health Protection Scotland is drafting new overarching national guidance to draw together the above publications and the Scottish Government’s HAI Task Force has been advised that a final draft will be provided to them in September 2008.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the "full details of the outbreak" to be produced by the Outbreak Control Team, as outlined on page 12 of Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008 .

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15591 on 8 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether annual reports from the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force to the Chief Medical Officer and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing have information on progress in tackling healthcare-acquired infection disaggregated on an NHS board basis.

Nicola Sturgeon: No. The report on the Scottish Government’s two Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) programmes between January 2003 and March 2008 is an overarching document detailing the work achieved by the HAI Task Force. The report is available on the HAI Website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/09/02115016/0.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all the written material considered by the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has no plans to do so. This would be a matter for the independent review team.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the remit of the independent review of the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital did not specifically include consideration of the actions of Health Protection Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Independent Review Team was specifically tasked with reviewing the events that took place at the Vale of Leven Hospital and Health Protection Scotland staff were consulted as part of the review. Any wider implications from the findings in the review are being taken forward in the national action plan.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital decided to invite the participation of relatives of those who had died of the infection.

Nicola Sturgeon: Engaging with patients and relatives who had been affected by Clostridium difficile was a key specification given by me to the independent review team. It was therefore always the intention of the independent review team to involve patients and relatives in the review process.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what services will cease, or otherwise be altered, as a consequence of the withdrawal of anaesthetic services, as recommended in report of the independent external clinical review of anaesthetic services at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive What the timetable and process will be for considering the future of services at the Vale of Leven Hospital, in particular the provision of emergency services.

Nicola Sturgeon: I welcome NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s commitment to quickly bring forward proposals for a full range of services at the Vale of Leven Hospital. These will take account of the report of the Independent External Review of Anaesthetic Services at the Vale and will set out a long-term safe and sustainable future for the Hospital. Proposals will be subject to public consultation and will ultimately need to be submitted to me for consideration and a final decision.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that the housing debts of local authorities that agreed to stock transfer were wiped out by HM Treasury.

Stewart Maxwell: The six Scottish local authorities that transferred all their housing stock to a registered social landlord had any residual housing debt and associated breakage costs repaid to the Public Works Loan Board. Resources to do so were provided by HM Treasury.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional Scottish Government funding there will be for registered social landlords in 2008-09 as a result of the First Minister’s announcement on 19 August 2008.

Stewart Maxwell: Following the First Minister’s announcement on 19 August, the total level and profile of funding up to £100 million which will be available over this and next year is being discussed with local government partners. It is intended that most or all of the accelerated funding in 2008-09 will be routed through registered social landlords (RSLs).

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the new level of Scottish Government funding will be for registered social landlords in 2008-09 as a result of the First Minister’s announcement on 19 August 2008.

Stewart Maxwell: Following the First Minister’s announcement on 19 August 2008, the total level and profile of up to £100 million which will be available over this and next year is being discussed with local government partners. It is intended that most or all of the accelerated funding in 2008-09 will be routed through registered social landlords.

Lifelong Learning

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it is making in skills and training in the child care and adult care sectors.

Adam Ingram: In 2006-07, £35 million was invested in colleges via the Scottish Funding Council to support over 25,000 enrolments in a wide range of child care and adult care related courses. The Scottish Government is also providing record levels of funding to local government, the majority of which is provided by means of a block grant. Local government, as part of our shared commitment to developing strong public services, invests significantly in the development of the child care and adult care workforces.

  The Scottish Government also makes a range of supplementary investments to support skills and training in these sectors. For example, we provide £6 million a year to five centres for excellence that have a focus on practitioner development in key areas, including residential child care and substance misuse. Learning networks, which support regional learning and development priorities across the sectors, receive £1 million a year. £1 million per annum is also provided via the Voluntary Sector Development Fund. Another £1 million is available to national voluntary sector bodies to deliver innovative training. Other initiatives which support skills development in these sectors are set out in the answers to questions S3W-15919 and S3W-15920 on 10 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Lifelong Learning

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the quality of training and education available to the child care and adult care sectors.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) undertakes sector skills council responsibility in Scotland for promoting and developing education and training for the social services workforce. The Scottish Government expects all sector skills councils to ensure that employers have a say in the design and development of learning at all levels and in all settings. This will ensure a demand led education and training system that provides individuals with the knowledge and skills required by employers. The SSSC has produced a sector learning strategy for Scotland and is working closely with awarding bodies to ensure that qualifications that are relevant, accessible and achievable are available to the workforce and their employers.

  The SSSC also plays an active role in the development of awards in Scotland and participates in decision making forums regarding the accreditation/validation and approval of awards for the social care sector. They therefore help to complement the respective approval, accreditation and quality assurance roles of the Scottish Qualifications Authority in relation to SVQs and HNCs, which make up a significant percentage of the training courses relevant to the childcare and adult care sectors.

  Responsibility for the approval, monitoring, inspection and quality assurance of the social work honours degree programmes and, from its introduction in autumn 2008, the new early years and child care degree programmes, also lies with the SSSC.

Lifelong Learning

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the development of the social care workforce.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to developing the social care workforce in line with the Economic Strategy and Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy . We are working with stakeholders on a range of partnership approaches, policies and systems to create sustainable change across the sector. These include a continuous learning framework linked to core skills and competencies and creating career pathways; a leadership and management framework providing tools to assist leaders in meeting their development needs; a research and development strategy which seeks to build the workforce’s capacity to engage with evidence-based practice; all of which are being developed under Changing Lives: the 21st Century Social Work Review . Additionally, support is provided to promote workforce development in the voluntary and private sectors; as well as a range of investment and quality improvement approaches which are set out in the answers to questions S3W-15918 and S3W-15919 on 10 September 2008.

  In the early years and child care sector we have developed a new standard for childhood practice. As part of that, we are working with the sector to develop a new degree programme for managers and lead practitioners, which will be available from September 2008. In due course, managers will be expected to achieve this qualification as part of registration with the Scottish Social Services Council.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

National Health Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of administration of community health partnerships in each NHS board.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been saved by abolishing NHS trusts and setting up community health partnerships.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15956 on 9 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Parenting

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider, in partnership with COSLA, providing services for parents of children aged nine to 18 as a follow-on to the early years framework.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to providing support to parents and families and it has a range of policies and programmes that provide support either directly or indirectly.

  The Scottish Government provides funding to a range of voluntary sector organisations to support parents, such as ParentLine Scotland, Parenting Across Scotland, Homestart, Parent Network Scotland and One Parent Families Scotland.

  The provision of specific services for parents and children is the responsibility of a number of local agencies, including the relevant local authority and NHS board, depending on the nature of the service.

Parenting

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review best practice around emotional and social support for parents, including strengthening the role of ParentLine Scotland.

Adam Ingram: Earlier this year the Scottish Government published a joint statement with COSLA on early years and early intervention. One of the four strands of the proposed early years framework is the central importance of parenting and family capacity in delivering improved outcomes for children and families. The framework will be published later this year.

  The Scottish Government is providing grant funding of £4.9 million this financial year to a range of voluntary sector bodies that support parents and promote development of parenting skills, including ParentLine Scotland.

Parenting Orders

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many parenting orders have been applied for by local authorities and subsequently granted in each year since their introduction, broken down by local authority area.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many parenting orders have been applied for by the Principal Reporter and subsequently granted in each year since their introduction, broken down by local authority area.

Adam Ingram: We do not hold information regarding the number of applications for parenting orders centrally.

  To date there have been no parenting orders granted.

Parking Charges

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have decriminalised parking offences.

Kenny MacAskill: Six local authorities have decriminalised parking offences. Decriminalised parking enforcement was introduced in the City of Edinburgh, Glasgow City, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen City, Dundee City and South Lanarkshire council areas as from October 1998, October 1999, October 2002, March 2003, April 2004 and February 2005 respectively.

Parking Charges

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money each local authority has received as a consequence of fixed penalty notices for car parking offences being decriminalised in each year since 2001.

Kenny MacAskill: For the local authorities where decriminalised parking enforcement has been in operation, the information requested is given in the following Scottish Executive/Scottish Government publications:

  Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2001 in section 10.6, on page 20;

  Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2002 in section 9.6, on page 18;

  Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2003 in table 26, on page 45;

  Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2004-05 in table 26, on page 46;

  Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2005-06 in table 31, on page 53, and

  Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2006-07 in table 31, on page 51.

  Copies of these are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 25720, 31304, 36012, 39481, 42387, 46485 respectively). Please note that Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2006-07 (Bib. number 46485) was released as a web only publication.

  Each of these publications can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubCriminalProceedings.

Public Sector Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15237 by John Swinney on 25 August 2008, what action it proposes to take to increase the number of employees over the age of 65 working for it and its agencies; whether it will set relevant targets, and what discussions it has had with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on age discrimination.

John Swinney: All recruitment to the Scottish Government is conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Code. Successful candidates are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

  The Scottish Government’s Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work policies prohibit discrimination on grounds of age. In addition, our Diversity Strategy supports our aim of valuing everyone’s individual contribution in the workplace.

  In line with our legal obligations, Diversity Strategy and Departmental Diversity Delivery Plan, the Scottish Government, as an employer, is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce.

  In 2002, the Scottish Government set up an Age Working Group of interested parties to consider the implications of Age legislation and to oversee the work of developing and implementing an Age Diversity Strategy.

  The work of the group also involved an initial audit of HR policies to assess the possible impact of the legislation. This was followed by a more detailed audit of all policies and procedures to ensure no disparate impact on staff of any age.

  Colleagues in Equality Unit and Older People’s Team regularly meet with members of Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) both in London and Scotland to discuss all aspects including age. Our Older People’s Team met with EHRC as part of a round table discussion on age on 24 June.

  From 1 October 2006 the Scottish Government introduced a "no retirement age" policy for band A-C staff in the Scottish Government main bargaining unit. This means that employees in those bands are free to continue in employment for as long as they wish subject to the normal Scottish Government conduct, performance and attendance procedures. Normal retirement age for the Senior Civil Service was raised by the Cabinet Office from 60 to 65.

  From 1 March 2008, the Scottish Government introduced ‘partial retirement’, this means that staff who agree with their manager to "reshape" their job, so that their earnings reduce by at least 20%, can draw some or all of their Civil Service pension and remain in work.

  We have no plans to introduce targets on age for staff recruitment or retention.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what cost projections the benefit-to-cost ratio for the Borders railway project was calculated and what the ratio would be if the latest cost estimates were used.

Stewart Stevenson: As I stated to the Parliament on 5 March 2008, the Borders rail project is expected to cost between £235 to £295 million, with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.32. There has been no revision to this forecast cost range.

Rail Network

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that Network Rail is given sufficient resources, such as trackside pumps and drains, to cope with heavy or prolonged rain so that normal train services can continue despite severe rainfall.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish ministers’ high level output specification (HLOS) was published in July 2007 and specified ministers’ requirements for the rail network from April 2009 to March 2014. The HLOS makes clear that Network Rail require to pursue "continued improvements to operational and financial performance, including improved resilience". The public funding available to support the HLOS includes an appropriate element for the continued maintenance of the Scottish rail network.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the renewable energy industry by continuing to purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is already providing a tremendous incentive for the renewables industry to build new renewable generating capacity via our renewables obligation on all Scottish electricity suppliers. Recent information has highlighted that renewable or "green" electricity tariffs for renewable electricity do not lead necessarily to the production of additional electricity from renewable sources.

  Rather than paying what is likely to be a significant price premium for "green" electricity within the current tight financial settlement, the Scottish Government will divert resources towards energy management measures for its own estate, which will help protect the environment while reducing costs in the medium term via reduced electricity consumption.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the electricity bought for the public sector under the contract currently out to tender will come from renewable sources.

Jim Mather: The national contract will give public sector organisations the option to buy renewable electricity dependant on availability and payment of appropriate premiums.

  The overall portion of renewable electricity purchased will therefore depend on the quantities specified by individual public bodies in line with their own policy and budget priorities.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not specified in its request for information from prospective electricity suppliers that 100% of the electricity must come from renewable sources.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why it specified in its request for information from prospective electricity suppliers only that one objective for suppliers was to secure the supply of a portion of green energy.

Jim Mather: Market indicators have suggested that the demand for renewable electricity has significantly increased as both public and private sector organisations have sought to demonstrate green credentials. This has resulted in supplies of renewable electricity being constrained in the market place both in terms of total availability and the quantities available from individual suppliers. The request for information process therefore sought information from the market on availability of renewable electricity to inform the strategy for the national electricity contract for the Scottish public sector.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the accreditation process for installers under the Scottish Community and Household Renewable Initiative and whether it considers that the process could be streamlined by, for example, a reduction in the frequency with which installers are required to reapply for accreditation.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government supports accreditation of microgeneration installers as this provides industry with robust standards and ensures consumer confidence.

  Therefore a current condition of domestic grants under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewable Initiative is that installers must meet certain accreditation standards.

  However, we want to ensure these standards are fit for purpose and, to this end, are currently exploring a number of options with an industry group representative of the Scottish installer base. This includes proposals for streamlining the installer accreditation process.

Roads

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that road drainage systems are improved to cope with current and future heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15712 on 8 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Schools

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide the resources identified in West Dunbartonshire Council’s single outcome agreement to build a new Dumbarton Academy.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government does not allocate funding for specific schools. We have already substantially increased capital resources for local authorities under the concordat – almost £3 billion is available to authorities over three years for investment in infrastructure, including schools. This is a rise of £115 million this year and for each of the next two years, for authorities to invest according to their priorities. Any requests for future funding requirements will be considered as part of the next spending review.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many anti-sectarianism projects it is funding in further education colleges in the 2008-09 academic year.

Fiona Hyslop: The funding of Scotland’s colleges of further education is the responsibility of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council. It is for the colleges themselves to determine the learning activity which is offered to students and potential students and which best meets the needs of local communities and businesses.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many anti-sectarianism projects it is funding in universities in the 2008-09 academic year.

Fiona Hyslop: The funding of Scotland’s universities is the responsibility of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council. It is for the universities themselves to determine the learning activity which is offered to students and potential students and which best meets the needs of local communities and businesses.

Student Finance

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated for student bursary awards in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: The information on higher education bursaries for 2005-06 and 2006-07 can be found in the Student Awards in Scotland 2006-07 Statistics Publication Notice at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/12112008/21.

  The 2007-08 data will be published and available in November 2008.

  Information on further education bursaries for 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 can be found in the main grant letter, which are published each year by the Scottish Funding Council and available at the following link: http://www.sfc.ac.uk/information/info_circulars/sfc/2008/circulars_2008.html.

Student Loans

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated in student loans in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: The information on student loan entitlement and take up for 2005-06 and 2006-07 can be found in the Student Awards in Scotland 2006-07 Statistics Publication Notice at the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/12112008/21 .

  The 2007-08 data will be published and available in November 2008.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Clyde Fastlink project (phases 1, 2 and 3) will be considered in the strategic transport projects review.

Stewart Stevenson: The Clyde Fastlink project (phases 1, 2 and 3), as a project identified in the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s Regional Transport Strategy, has been considered as part of the strategic transport projects review.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be in a position to publish the strategic transport projects review reports.

Stewart Stevenson: The reports arising from the strategic transport projects review will be published later in the year, once ministers have given careful consideration to the findings and made an announcement on the outcome of the review.

Transport

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15202 by Stewart Stevenson on 31 July 2008, whether it will list the titles of interventions proposed by Tactrans for consideration as part of the strategic transport projects review.

Stewart Stevenson: The interventions proposed by Tactrans for consideration as part of the strategic transport projects review formed one source of such interventions. A wide range of interventions were proposed by various sources: duplicate or complementary interventions were packaged together, where appropriate. The full list of interventions will be detailed in the appendices to the reports which will be published later this year.